Barcelona can and must compete with the world's leading cities.

The New Barcelona Post converses this month with Lluís Cintas, one of the young people participating in the leadership and city program taught by Barcelona Global, Barcelona 2040. Lluís Cintas, an entrepreneur with more than 12 years of experience specialized in the design of gastronomic, innovative, and sustainable concepts focused on user experience. Among other works, he has led disruptive innovation projects in Silicon Valley, has been operations director at Serunion, is founder and CEO of oríGenes, a company for gastronomic and innovative events with a positive impact for companies, and currently, he is the general director of the gastronomy and experiences division of Stoneweg Places & Experiences.

The objective of this series of interviews is for this new generation of leaders to share their vision of the Barcelona of the future they aspire to, as well as their impact proposals for the improvement of the city.

— What do you expect from Barcelona in the year 2040?

— I expect a productive, brave, and optimistic Barcelona, understanding where the world is going and what are the values that make it different; currently, we are fallow. Barcelona can offer little more, we must empower and believe in what already exists.

— Which city would you compare Barcelona to?

— It is not easy to compare it with another city, as Barcelona has a set of singularities that make it unique. We could break it down and compare it with cities that have a port like Rotterdam, Antwerp, or Valencia. With cities that are references in innovation like San Francisco or Tokyo. With cities with culture and history like Florence or Vienna. With cosmopolitan cities like New York or London... but cities that have all these and more qualities together are not easy. Barcelona can and must compete with the world's leading cities.

— What city model do you think Barcelona should resemble?

— A city model in which innovation, sustainability, and solidarity are the foundation. For example, Boston or Stockholm are cities recognized for education, innovation and entrepreneurship, and for sustainability and quality of life.

— What is the main challenge Barcelona must solve in the coming years?

— Overlooking the already known essentials for a welfare society (housing, security, cleanliness, public-private collaboration...) I believe that two major challenges that can help us return to the forefront as leaders in creativity and innovation are: attracting international talent and facilitating and promoting entrepreneurship.

To not go too far, a close and clear example is that of Madrid. I have been spending 3 years between Madrid and Barcelona, because in my city, Barcelona, where I had been working for 10 years, we do not feel supported in entrepreneurship. In Barcelona, we receive a single answer from the administration: We cannot help you. In Madrid, we receive a question: How can we help you? We must help change the mentality of citizens and administrations to take advantage of the opportunities in the city and retain the talent that decides to live in Barcelona.

"We are experiencing a tsunami where, for the first time, everything is advancing at a very high speed"

— I believe the fusion of new generations with other generations is essential for the development of the city. We are experiencing a tsunami where, for the first time, everything is advancing at a very high speed and, above all, simultaneously (sex, religion, politics, economy, technology...). To understand where the world is going, we must listen to the new generations, enhancing the experience, knowledge, and culture of other generations. We come from a history where we were more cultured and we are heading towards a future where values, attitude, and adaptation to change will be the key to success.

— Which business sectors do you think Barcelona should bet on?

— On culture as a driver of humanization. On science as a driver of innovation. On gastronomy as a social driver. On entrepreneurship as a driver of transformation. On tourism as an economic driver. On luxury as a driver of prestige.